Chapters 9, 11, & 12

Chapter 9

At first, I wasn't excited to read about this aspect of history. I am not going to go into details on my
opinion, rather I will be objective with the material and give a reading analysis.

On page 411, there is an quote from Malcolm X reflecting on his hajj during his observance of the 6th pillar. I read his autobiography written by Alex Haley and I remember this chapter quite well. He became aware that Islam isn't a race or color. The religion is practiced by fair skinned to dark complected people over this world. Malcolm X realized that if anyone is rescued by religion like he was in prison, then the person must exercise their passion accordingly. Unlike today with ISIS where religion is no longer a concept rather a strict and somewhat interpretation of religious text.

There were many parts of this chapter in which allowed me to become better educated. It was interested to see like Jesus, Mohammed worked as a shepherd when he was young. I see the Islam faith began as giving and not so secular and where spirituality was an equal place among men and women. Like with many religions, there are interpretations that leads the population into a direction of the unknown and potentially divided. Unlike today where extremist groups exercise forced conversion, the early conquerors observed more of a "social conversion." (PG. 421). The forced conversion according to the text, was more of a rare occurrence.

 I consider most of the modern thinking along organized religions to be "old thinking."  Copernicus remarked that sometimes, we must wait for the generation to change in order to accept a new way of thinking. When will that time be for this part of time?

I found it interesting the differences between the Shia and Sunni. It's no wonder why these two groups can't agree.


Chapter 11

You mean to tell me that a flea took down the Mongols? That concept is so interesting for me to ingest as when I was little, I would imagine Khan to be a larger than life figure that wouldn't be afraid of anything. It's too bad that something so small, took down the empire that I was to believe was unstoppable.

I didn't know that Khan encased the largest empire of all human history. Why isn't this mentioned anymore? Why don't I hear his name come up as often as I hear Hitler, Cesar, or Napoleon? Khan definitely deserves his campaigns and beliefs to be continually talked about and how is introduction of psychological warfare (yuck) came to be. I can't believe his men would take the corpses of the infected related to the plague and throw them onto their enemies. - WOW.. Perhaps he should be known for his biological warfare to?

I enjoyed reading and learning that he didn't conquer and then change everyone's personal belief's. It appeared he took them on as more population and the captured to fight along side of his own army. Plus, with the positive blend of discipline and loyalty, it's no wonder why he was so successful. "I eat the same food and am dressed in the same rags as my humble herdsmen." (PG. 525).

Khan was an amazing warrior and I made it my mission to mention him tonight during dinner.

Chapter 12

I truly enjoyed how this chapter began with excerpt about Columbus. I actually smile and thought to myself on how much notoriety he got?

I found the chapter to be all over the place. There was discussions on a lot that was covered earlier. Not that I am complaining as the author has a gift in presenting history in a way that welcomes the reader.

I think the phrase from "Jaws" truly comes to play in this chapter. "We're going to need a bigger boat!" The expeditions that were launched was very impressive to me. I can't imagine the amount of ships that sunk in the name of exploring a new land and how many people lost their lives.

The section on the Ottoman empire shed light on a few things within myself. I saw the area that was held and noticed that it's the same area that ISIS is pursuing.

The closing of the chapter reminds me that world history is vast and covers many aspects. With the book weighing as much as a Chevy 350 engine block, I concede that this probably only scratches the surface the past coming into text.